Women across Turkey will take to the streets in protest on 8 March International Women’s Day with the slogan, “We are angry, we are in mourning, we are in feminist revolt against patriarchal capitalist destruction”.
This year’s event is particularly significant due to the recent earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş (Mereş), the organising committee of the Feminist Night March said. Women’s groups have been organising solidarity efforts in the aftermath of the disaster, distributing essential items such as hygiene products and underwear in purple lorries.
The Istanbul Feminist Night March is an annual event to draw attention to women’s issues in Turkey, including sex-based violence, discrimination, and inequality. This year it takes place against the backdrop of increasing concerns about the situation for women in the earthquake-stricken region.
The Istanbul march will start from the central Taksim Square at 19.30. Night Marches will also be held in Ankara, İzmir, Antalya, Mersin, Çanakkale and Bodrum.
Women’s gatherings have been met with police violence in recent years, in Istanbul as well as Diyarbakır (Amed) and various cities throghout the country.
